Buckle



(No Model.)

J. G. TAYLOR.

BUCKLE 7 No. 481,079.. Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

wi/bvwoow UNITED STATES PATENT rion.

JOHN GREENE TAYLOR, OF KOSSE, TEXAS.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,079, dated August 16, 1892.

Application filed March 28, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, J OHN GREENE TAYLOR, of Kosse, in the county of Limestone and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in buckles; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, which will be fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to form a buckle that is composed of two parts, the upper ends forming what may be termed a buckle proper, to secure the end of a strap, and the lower ends formed into curved portions which fit one within the other and constructed to interlock, so that the lower end is adapted to catch a chain, bit, or other device which it is desired to connect a strap to, the interlocking parts forming ahinge, whereby they can be turned one upon the other and separated entirely, or at their upper ends to allow the adjustment of the strap secured thereto, and which is adapted to be used in any connection in which a snap-hook can be applied.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my invention, showing it applied. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective View of the inner plate of the buckle. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the outer plate of the buckle. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification.

The buckle which composes my invention is formed of an outer plate A and an inner plate B, the latter having its lower end formed into a curved or semicircular portion 0, which is provided with acurved tongue or projection D. The upper end of this inner plate B is provided with an opening E, through which the strap passes in the manner described hereinafter. The outer plate A is also provided with an inwardly-curved or semicircular portion G, which is sufficiently smaller than the curved portion 0 of the inner plate A to be placed therein, as shown in Fig. 1. Formed in this curved portion G of Serial No. 426,811. (No model.)

the outer plate B is an opening I-I, through which the tongue or projection D of the inner plate passes, and thuslocks the two lower curved portions of the two members of the buckle together, so that they cannot be separated when the upper ends of the plates are held together by means of the strap 1. By turning the upper end of the outer plate A outward, the lower ends thereof are turned as upon a hinge by means of the tongue and opening that receives it, and can be separated after being turned down, as will be readily understood.

Made in the upper end of the outer plate A, which is shorter than the plate B, is an opening L, and projecting from the upper wall or end of this opening L is a tongue or projection N, which rests upon the upper wall or end M of the opening E of the inner plate B. The strap I is provided with perforations and has its upper end passed through the opening E in the inner plate, the tongueN of the outer plate passed through one of the said openings of the strap and then passed down over the upper wall of the opening L in the outer plate, and then has its lower and free end passed through the said opening L, as illustrated. In this manner the strap, so long as any strain is upon it, holds the upper ends of the two members of the buckle together, while their lower ends are interlocked, as will be understood from the previous description. These lower ends cannot, therefore, be separated until the upper ends of the plates are separated and the lower curved ends turned upon each other, as does a hinge.

By means of a buckle of this kind a chain can be passed through the circle formed by the two curved lower portions of the plates and held securely therein, as when the invention is used for a back-strap or trace-holder, or a bit can have its ring passed in the said circle by separating the lower ends of the plates in the manner described. In fact the buckle can be used in any connection in which a snap-hook can be used and makes a much better fastening, as it cannot be undone by the animal, and is secure so long as the upper ends of the plates are not separated.

I do not limit myself to the location of the tongue or projection N of the outer plate, whichpasses through the strap, as this may be varied and the same result accomplished. The tongue maybe entirely omitted, as shown in Fig. 4, the end of the strap being riveted or otherwise secured to the inner plate, and then passed through the openings in the upper ends of the plates. By this means the upper ends of the plates are held together by the strap.

My invention consists, primarily, in the construction of the lower ends of the plates and the holding together of the upper ends of the plates by means of the strap passing through them in any desired manner.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A buckle comprising two members, each having their lower ends curved and fitting one within the other to form substantially a closed circle, the upper ends of the two plates having each an opening for the passage of the strap, and one of the plates having a tongue which passes through the strap, substantially as set forth.

2. A buckle comprising two members, each having curved lower ends, the curved portion of one having a tongue or projection and a curved portion of the other having an opening to receive the said tongue, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GREENE TAYLOR. lVitnesses:

L. W. DUKE, J AS. M. TAYLOR. 

